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Rockets star tests range in latest All-Star effort
East 134, West 128
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Damien Pierce
Rockets.com Staff Writer
NEW ORLEANS -- Yao Ming had never felt more relaxed heading into an NBA All-Star
Game.
He just wasn't expecting to be in such a tranquil state during it.
The Rockets' All-Star starting center watched most of the action unfold from the
bench as the Eastern Conference held off the Western Conference for a thrilling
134-128 victory in Sunday's All-Star Game.
"I feel like an old man," Yao said after logging 13 minutes. "I was sitting on
the sideline watching the young men play on the court."
He at least got to watch a pretty good show.
LeBron James dazzled the crowd with his ferocious dunks and nifty passes, earning
his second All-Star Game MVP. The Cavs star, who had 27 points, nine assists and
eight rebounds, powered a jam over Dirk Nowitzki with 55 seconds remaining that
proved to be the difference after the West rallied from a 16-point deficit.
The performance helped the East avenge a humbling blowout loss to the West last
season in Las Vegas in which Kobe Bryant and Co. blew away the East for a
21-point win.
"We didn't want to come out there and get beat up again," James said.
Yao didn't get much of a chance to stand in the way of James and the East with
his limited minutes in his sixth All-Star appearance.
Still, the center's latest performance with the world's best hoopsters was a
memorable one.
Yao, who was playing in the event for the first time in two years after missing
last's season game because of injury, had six points and five rebounds.
He spent most of his minutes drifting back to the three-point line, where he
tried to show off his shooting range.
Unfortunately, he didn't have it.
Stepping back beyond the arc twice after catching passes, Yao drew iron on his
first three-point effort before sailing an airball over the rim in his second
attempt from the left corner.
Yao was hoping to put on a three-point shooting clinic, but it didn't pan
out.
"Actually, if I made the first three, the second one I was going to shoot out of
my left (hand)," Yao said. "But I missed the first one. So I said, 'OK, I need to
make the second one.' But I didn't even touch the rim."
Yao, though, noted that he wouldn't have missed three in a row.
"I wouldn't have missed the third one, but I didn't get a chance," Yao said.
Yao had other moments.
During the third quarter, he whirled around Dwight Howard and faked the center
off his feet near the rim before trying to spin back the other way. Howard fouled
Yao before he could cap off the drive, sending the Rockets center to the foul
line.
Before that, Yao watched a ball bounce to Chinese action star Jet Li. He urged
the actor to take a shot.
"That's very interesting," Yao said. "The ball just bounced to him. Why is he
just sitting there? Why not try to shoot one? He's shy a little bit."
Yao wasn't disappointed about his limited playing time as Hornets coach Byron
Scott opted to go with quicker big men in an uptempo game.
The center, though, joked that he'll be available for more minutes next season,
if needed.
"I'll play 45 (minutes) next year when I come back," Yao said.
